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Lycoming-Inspired Superior Vantage Uses Mogas...

The first GA engine certified to run on unleaded automotive gasoline is a reality. Superior Air Parts officials told a packed Sun 'n Fun news conference their Vantage O-360 (aspirated) and IO-360 (injected) engines will happily sip mid-grade 91 Octane mogas. Keith Blockus, who was in charge of development of the engine for the Coppell, Texas-based company, said the 180-h.p. mill went through "one of the most documented test programs" ever conceived for an engine and they're confident in the longevity and reliability of the engine whether it runs on 100 LL, unleaded or a mix of the two. The revamped engine has a bit of a track record, however--it's a retooled, re-engineered and improved (says Superior) of the venerable Lycoming 360. To combat the pre-ignition problems that can crop up with car gas, Superior developed special tools to detect detonation and combat it. Blockus said the mogas option not only addresses the long-predicted demise of leaded fuel, it opens markets in areas of the world where avgas might as well be extinct because it's not available.